210 THE ASSOCIATIONS OF FLOWERS 
ment, the smell of a field, but will effectually prevent 
them from being injured by the moth. Several plants 
retain some degree of odour w^hen dried; but the cases 
are very few in which, like the sw^eet w^oodruff, their 
scent is actually improved by the diminution of their fresh- 
ness. 
“ Filled with balm, the gale sighs on. 
Though the flowers are sunk in death ; 
So, when Pleasure's dream is gone, 
Its Memory lives in Music’s breath.” 
This plant is eaten by cattle; and it was formerly much 
valued as a medicine in liver complaints. It prospers well 
in a garden among shrubs ; and it is to be regretted that 
it is not more commonly planted there, as it is one of the 
few plants which are uninjured by the shade of foliage, or 
the water which drops from it. 
On chalky hills and moorlands, unsheltered by trees, 
another species of woodruff is very comm.on. This flow^er 
(Asperiila cynanchica) is destitute of perfume ; but its blos- 
som is formed like that of the scented kind, though not 
so large, and slightly tinged with a pinkish colour. It is 
not so pretty as the former, as it growls much lower; and 
its foliage is small and inconspicuous, instead of forming 
any addition to its beauty. It blooms in the midst of 
summer, contrasting with the deeper colour of the wdld 
thyme and the eyebright, wTich are its common com- 
panions on the moor. It abounds on sunny, chalky places 
throughout England, but is never found in Scotland or 
Wales. It is often called by cottagers squinancy-w^ort. 
One other species only remains to be enumerated among 
our wild-flowers. This is the field woodruff (Asperula 
arvensis) ; and it is by no means a common plant, being 
confined to a few districts of our land. Its blossoms are 
of a bright-blue colour. The fruit which follows them is 
remarkable for its large size. It has only during late years 
been observed in England ; and was formerly said to be 
a native of every country in Europe except Britain. There 
are in this country a few^ kinds of cultivated woodruff. 
One of them, the hairy w’oodruff, bears purple blossoms, 
and is found wild on the Pyrenees. The others are all 
natives of the south of Europe. 
